ICSID Tribunal Ruling Defied as Niger Moves Forward With Uranium Exports From SOMAÏR

The geopolitical standoff over uranium control in Niger has escalated sharply after the military-led administration revealed plans to market uranium from the SOMAÏR operation on global exchanges. General Abdourahamane Tiani, leading the junta, declared on state broadcasting that Niger possesses “the sovereign prerogative to commercialize its mineral endowments to any purchaser operating within market protocols and independent decision-making frameworks.”

This development represents a direct challenge to an international arbitration ruling. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) issued a September 2025 decision explicitly directing Niger to refrain from any sale, transfer, or facilitation of uranium resources from the SOMAÏR facility. The tribunal’s order was designed to safeguard the contractual entitlements held by Orano, the French nuclear energy corporation historically dominating uranium extraction across Niger’s mining sector.

The Legal Dispute and Corporate Response

Orano, which maintains formal ownership of 60 percent equity in SOMAÏR while also holding significant positions in Cominak and Imouraren operations, lost effective command of these facilities when the junta assumed direct authority in December 2024. The takeover proceeded under the justification that prior mining agreements had expired and that comprehensive national sovereignty necessitated state control over resource extraction.

The French firm responded by characterizing the uranium shipment as a violation of its contractual and arbitration-protected interests. Company representatives disclosed learning of the transfer exclusively through journalistic coverage, lacking any formal notification regarding shipment volumes, destination markets, or transport methodologies. Orano emphasized potential hazards inherent in moving substantial uranium quantities without appropriate security infrastructure, cautioning that it would pursue supplementary remedies including potential legal action against third-party purchasers if materials were removed contrary to its supply agreement.

Geopolitical Realignment and Market Implications

Niger’s shift toward resource autonomy follows its 2023 military transition, which precipitated cooling relations with France while strengthening engagement with Russian interests. Moscow has previously signaled appetite for uranium mining opportunities throughout the region. The 1,500 metric tons of uranium held in inventory before the latest transfer represents commercially significant volumes, with speculation directing toward potential buyers including entities from Turkey, Iran, and Russia.

The stakes extend far beyond bilateral corporate conflicts. SOMAÏR, alongside companion facilities, supplies a material percentage of global uranium markets. During 2022, Niger contributed approximately one-quarter of the natural uranium consumption supporting European nuclear generating capacity—making the nation’s production essential to continental energy security calculations and nuclear fuel supply chains globally.